The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-18
!, LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Science of "Mind-Reading.
he Editor of the 1r1diansnoIis journal.

To che Editor of the indianapolis journal:
word in regard to the Enigma OF the
Nineteenth Century--the Original and World
famous Mind Reader, Washington Irving
Bishop" as he styles himself in his announce
ments. And this even at the risk OF taking Goals
to New Castle. so far as-allinteligent people
concerned, for Bishop and Brown have gone
into neurological and psychological history,
70 speak. and any one wishing their record has
only to consult the public library tSee essays of
DR.. George NJ Beard in Popular Science Month
ly, Volumes X, X and XII. on Physiology of
Mind Reading" and Experiments with Mind
Readers Volume, XIV; also the English jour
nal, Nature. for June %, 1881, which, contains
the extended report on Bishop BY G. J. Ro-
names, Prof. Groom Robertson. Mr.. Francis
Cation and Prof. Ego r. Lancaster;
also the "Alienist and soN eurolosist," and
the New York Medical Record, Oct. Is 1851
indeed any journals Of medicine or psychology
published in 1892, contain straight accounts
Of Messrs. Brown and Bishop. The entire sub
ject is analysed by DR.. VIM. B. Carpenter in his
"Mesmerism and Spritualsm, Historically and
Scientifically Considered" afwerk well known in
this country, published by Appleson g. Co. DR..
Beard IN America, and Dr. aGarpenternin En-
correspondent about them. Beard proved in
contestaty in 1874. that Browns mind-reading
was muscle-reading and nothing more that he
could not determine qualities and prop
critics. but only directions and localities,
Seven years later. in 1881, Bishop turned up
England s'mind-reader." although be knew
Brown. and knew of DR.. Boards researches and
explanations accepted in this country. Here
was whore he played false. for he said he did not
understand the way he operated. DR.. Caruen-
ters letter given Bishop, and of which editorial
mention was made in Fridays journal. was
simply written SO as to get Bishop before the
people and the scientists. the latter would in
vestigate him. as they did. Before this
mittee. the most eminent and competent that
could be collected in London, at Prof. Groom
Robertson's house, Mr. Bishop stated that when
seeking an object his feelings those of
dreamy abstraction" or ''revere,' and his
finding the object Hdue to impression borne
in him." But the committee stated in
writing as the result of their report that
MIR Bishop is guided by the Indications I'M
consciously given through the muscles OF his
subject-ditferential pressure of the subjects
fingers on Bishops fingers playing the part of
the words hot and cold In the childish game
which these words signify" So mind-reading Is
muscle-reading by the highest English and
American scientific authority.
Mr.. Bishop is no doubt a prodigy, and is worth
seeing by all curious and intelligent people, be-
cause of his wonderful nervous organization and
consequent ability, perfected by years of train
ing, IN perceiving muscular movements to which
most people are nsensate. { have doubt but
that he could draw the plan of house that any
gentleman. whose hand be srasped, might have
in his mind, and at the same time
l know that he could not tell the
color of the paper the plan was
Certainly he could redupiicate the plan If the
genial Austin Brown held the plan in his ample
but leaky mind, for Mr. Brown was most Dlla-
bic and easily-worked subject; and Bishops
greatest effort-the arrangement of the tableaux
was through Mr. Browns muscles twitching
greatly at every thought. But Prof Hurry was
'poor spbjecti--his mind TOO analytical -
Bishop said Prof. Hurry was able to control
his muscles, and probably tried to do 80. He
| understood the nature of the game, and was not
sympathetic and readily worked" though
| Mr.. Bishop could undoubtedly have made his
| finds" with the chemist in due time
| Every one of Mr.. Bishops successes proved
one and only thing. and that is that
| he can determine the directions and the locali-
ties of objects his subject has in his mind By the
| pressure that subject makes through their
| touching fingers. 1t matters not whether the
subject traces devious course among the seats
| of a theater or traces the devious course of a
| figure three or figure eight from bank note,
| Mr.. Bishop can follow him and trace his course
and his numerals with dalicacy ard sureness
| possibly not to be excelled by any other man upon
this planet But he and mis- subject must be
connected through nerve and sense; either by
! hand, wire, or by sense of sound He cart
tell you where yonr best girl "a and what ssp IS
/ thinking OF you; he sought his own family by
| Telegraph ana letter ike other people.
| he has no power differing in
| kind from what we all possess; the difference il
| in degree alone Mr. Bishop is splendidly
trained animal. splendidly trained in his nervous
make-up-he runs all to fingers and to touch.
| Mr.. Glasscock is splendidly trained animal
also, but we may suppose his hands are tough
and his muscles and sinews hard-a triumph OF
muscular training. Each has the mower of the
other to degree, but runs to delicate nerve
and the other to toughened muscle. People pay
their money to see the results of skill and train
ing in both cases, but to call uscle-readine
mlnd-reading is unscientifc as to say
that the baseball men do not really
throw the ball, but merely will it and
wish it through its wild courses
1t is very important that we call spade spade
and it is only this feeling and the knowledge
that so many who read of Bishops exploits arr
misled or left in the dark that / have called
attention to the numerous books, and pamphlets
and journals in which Mr. Bishop and his won
derful dongs described and explained fully
know people love to be humb ugged, and have
known men of wealth and position to lay dowr
and lose their good gold eagles TO learn a way t.
expand their golden molecules and increase thei
weight, taught by Bohemian chemist
Bishop and Brown go right on with thei
work and if this proves to be good sadn FOL
their business, it is concern of the writer.
A. W. BRAYToN, NJ D.
| INDIANAPOLIS, April Is.
The Growing Crops-Sprinc Notes.